Avon Global Center for Women and Justice and Jindal Global Law School to Host the Second Annual Women and Justice Conference

“Gender-Based Violence and Justice in South Asia”

October 20, 2011, Ithaca, N.Y., and Sonipat, Haryana: Today, Cornell Law School’s Avon Global Center for Women and Justice and Jindal Global Law School announced the Second Annual Women and Justice conference to be held in New Delhi, India on 22 and 23, October 2011. The topic of the conference—“gender-based violence and justice in South Asia”—brings together legal and other scholars, health and legal professionals, judges from international and national courts, human rights advocates, and policymakers to share knowledge and strategies to eradiate violence against women and girls. Over two hundred people from nearly 15 nations, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the United States, will participate in the conference.

Violence against women and girls is a widespread and tragic problem around the world. Domestic violence, sexual violence, and other types of violence are pervasive in every country. Violence occurs globally in public spaces and workplaces, as well as within the private realm. Although stakeholders have been working tirelessly in their own countries to eradicate gender-based violence, there are too few opportunities for them to share strategies and best practices across sectors and national boundaries.

"Cornell Law School and its Avon Global Center for Women and Justice are proud to partner with the Jindal Global Law School in this important conference. We have gathered a talented array of experienced and committed judges, lawyers, and academics to exchange ideas and best practices in combatting the worldwide problems of violence against women. I look forward to the results,” said Stewart J. Schwab, the Allan R. Tessler Dean and Professor of Law at Cornell Law School. The conference has been developed in further collaboration with UN Women, Virtue Foundation, Kriti Team, the International Center for Ethics, Justice, and Public Life at Brandeis University, and Acid Survivors Trust International (ASTI).

“The conference is being organized at a critical time when issues relating to gender based violence needs to be discussed in the context of South Asia. The conference draws upon comparative and international law perspectives on women’s rights, while focusing its thematic sessions within the South Asian context,” said C. Raj Kumar, Professor & Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University and Dean, Jindal Global Law School.

Towards the goals of addressing gender-based violence and improving access to justice for its survivors, the organizers hope to accomplish several objectives through the conference:

To enhance legal and policy development, as well as advocacy strategies

To enhance international collaboration and networks among those fighting for justice for women

To incorporate international human rights frameworks in the fight against gender-based violence